Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 170

The Exposition of the Maheśa Mantra

Mahēśa-mantra-prakāśana

Devanagari script

श्मशानभस्माचितांते शरण्याय ततः परम् । घंटाकपालमालादिधरायेति पदं पुनः ॥ १७० ॥

Transliteration

śmaśānabhasmācitāṃte śaraṇyāya tataḥ param | ghaṃṭākapālamālādidharāyeti padaṃ punaḥ || 170 ||

Translation

Seterusnya hendaklah dibaca mantra: “kepada Tuhan sebagai Perlindungan, yang tubuh-Nya disapukan abu tanah pembakaran mayat”; kemudian sekali lagi mantra: “kepada Dia yang memegang loceng, tengkorak, kalungan bunga dan seumpamanya.”

Word by Word

• श्मशान-भस्म-चित-अन्ते: at the end of the ‘cremation-ground-ash-pyre’ (phrase)
• श्मशान-भस्म-चित-अन्ते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्मशान (प्रातिपदिक) + भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + चित (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; ‘अन्ते’ इति सप्तमी-आधारित अव्ययार्थः (locative-based adverbial), अर्थः—‘अन्ते/अवसाने’ (at the end)

• शरण्याय: for (the one called) Śaraṇya / the refuge-giver
• शरण्याय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative); एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: सम्बन्ध/क्रमसूचक (Sequencing)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• परम्: next/further
• परम्: सम्बन्ध/क्रमसूचक (Sequencing)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग (adverbial accusative); ‘परम्’ = ‘further/next’

• घण्टा-कपाल-माला-आदि-धराय: to the bearer of bell, skull-garland, etc.
• घण्टा-कपाल-माला-आदि-धराय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घण्टा (प्रातिपदिक) + कपाल (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th/Dative); एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी/उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: ‘घण्टा-कपाल-माला-आदि’ (objects) + ‘धर’ (bearer)

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्य-सम्बन्ध (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक (quotative particle)

• पदम्: the word/epithet
• पदम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: सम्बन्ध/पुनरुक्ति-सूचक (Repetition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the mantra-epithets in sequence)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Rudra)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It gives sequential epithets (pada) for upāsanā, presenting the deity as both fearsome (cremation-ash, skull emblems) and supremely protective (śaraṇya), teaching that refuge is sought beyond external appearances.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti here is expressed through nāma/epithet-recitation: the devotee lovingly remembers the Lord’s attributes and emblems in an ordered way, cultivating surrender (śaraṇāgati) to the ‘Refuge’.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects mantra-prayoga and padapāṭha-style precision—using fixed word-formulas (pada) in a prescribed sequence, a practical application connected to Śikṣā (correct recitation) and Vyākaraṇa (accurate word-forms).